Fire-escape



(No Model.)

JRJUNOAN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Aug. 27, 1895.

lhvrrnn STATES PATENT Orrron.

JOHN R. DUNCAN, OF PIT'ISBURG LANDING, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ELI P.OHUROHVVELL, OF SAVANNAH, TENNESSEE.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

$PECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,155, dated August27, 1895.

Application filed February 8,1895. Eierial No. 537,683. tNo model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. DUNCAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Pittsburg Landing, in the county of Hardin and State ofTennessee, have invented a certain new, useful, and valuable Improvementin Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention has relation to fire-escapes; and it consists in the novelconstruction and arrangementof its parts, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end view of'the fire-escapesecured in place on the wall. Fig. 2 is a side view of the fireescape.

The device consists of a frame 1, adapted to be secured to the wall,just under the window, on the inside. A shaft 2 is journaled in saidframe. Said shaft is provided in its middle with the rigid pulley 3. Theropewinds on the shaft 2 on one side of the pulley 3, and the rope 5winds on the shaft 2 on the other side of the pulley 3. hen one rope iswound on the shaft, the other rope is unwound, and vice versa. Normallythe rope 4 is wound on the shaft and the rope 5 is wound on the spool 3,also journaled in the frame 1.

The frame 1 has pivoted to it a frame or lever '7, upon which is mounteda brake-shoe S, which comes in contact with the periphery of the pulley3. The said pivoted frame or lever thus forms a brake, and it isoperated by the ropes 4: and 5, which pass from the shaft 2 down andunder suitable rollers 9 9, located on the brake and then up and out ofthe window. (See Fig. 1.) The rollers 9 9 are to reduce the friction onthe ropes. Any other means may be provided whereby the ropes will passaround and operate the lever.

The device operates as follows: It is arranged as shown in Fig. 2, whichis its normal arrangement. A person wishing to descend takes the rope eand swings himself out of the window. The rope, passing under the roller9, brings the brake-shoe 8 up against the periphery of the pulley 3, andhence the descent of the person is gradual. At the same time the rope 4;is being unwound the rope 5 is being wound on the shaft 2 from the spool6, and when the first person reaches the ground said rope 5 is ready fora second per son. Said rope 5 also operates the brake, as described, andas the said rope 5 unwinds the rope 4. is rewound on the shaft 2. Hencethe device will operate continuously in lowering persons and the brakewill adjust itself to suit any weight, for a heavy person will make thefriction on the periphery of the pulley 3 great, and thus the force ofgravity is overcome sufficiently to allow the device to operategradually, while a light person will make the friction on the peripheryof the pulley 3 less, and thus the force of gravity is overcomesufficiently to allow the device to operate'gradually. The light personand the heavy person will descend at about the same rate of speed.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-- 1. .A fire escape consisting of a journaledshaft having a rigid pulley, a lever extending parallel with the shaftand having a brakeshoe adapted to come in contact with the pe- I ripheryof said pulley, a rope adapted to wind and unwind on the shaft, saidrope passing from the shaft around a portion of the brake lever and thenaway from the lever in such manner as to operate the brake, said ropealso having a lateral play along said lever, as set forth.

2. A fire escape consisting of a journaled shaft having a rigid pulleylocated thereon intermediate of its two ends; a rope secured to the saidshaft on each side of the pulley, one rope adapted to wind on the shaftwhile the other is unwinding and vice versa; a lever parallel to theshaft and having a brake shoe adapted to come in contact with theperiphery of said pulley, said ropes passing from the shaft around aportion of the brake lever and then away from the lever in such manneras to operate the brake, said ropes also having a lateral play alongsaidlevers, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. DUNCAN.

Witnesses:

P. T. SIPES, R. G. STANLEY, J r.

